March 2, 2007
09:00 AM (EST)

News Release Number: STScI-2007-12

Hubble Sees 'Comet Galaxy' Being Ripped Apart By Galaxy Cluster

March 2, 2007: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, in collaboration with several other ground- and space-
based telescopes, has captured a galaxy being ripped apart by a galaxy cluster's
gravitational field and harsh environment.

The finding sheds light on the mysterious process by which gas-rich spiral-shaped galaxies
might evolve into gas-poor irregular- or elliptical-shaped galaxies over billions of years. The
new observations also reveal one mechanism for forming the millions of "homeless" stars
seen scattered throughout galaxy clusters.